Spirit level



J. HILL SPIRIT LEVEL Jan. 19, 1932.

vmw NM 5 un N {7% 5 3% #3 3 H... km? 4? w WN/ W/// Filed April 14, 1950 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOSIEliPI-I HILL, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY sPInI'r LEVEL Application filed April 14,

This invention relates to spirit levels such as commonly employed by mechanics in lining up vertical and horizontal surfaces and especially in erecting buildings; and the object of the invention is to provide means for illuminating the gage devices of tools of this class so that they may be readily seen regardless of the prevailing light in the place where W the tool is used, thus facilitating the production of more aceuratework or in other words more correct alignment; a further object being to provide independent illuminating devices for each indicator of the tool when multiple indicators are employed; a further object being to provide a single source of electric supply for each of the bulbs employed with switch devices adjacent the separate indicators controlling the bulbs thereof whereby the particular indicator in use alone '35! may be clearly seen; a further object being to so arrange the electrical devices in the tool as to facilitate the attachment and detachment thereof at will for replacement or repair; and with these and other objects in 535 View, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efficient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings forms a part, in which the the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters '35 in each of the views, and in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of a tool made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. In Fig.1 of the drawings, I have shown for the purpose of illustrating one method of carrying my invention into effect a spirit level 10 having arranged thereon three indicator units 11, 12 and 13. The spirit tubes Ila-12a of the units 11 and 12 are arranged 1930'. Serial No. 444,034.

transversely of the tool whereas the tubes 13a ofthe unit 13 are arranged longitudinally thereof as in other devices of this class and all of these units are arranged in'apertures transversing the tool so as to be visible from either side and the apertures are closed at either side by transparent panels 14, note for example the panels of the unit 11, Fig. at of the drawings. The unit 13 is arranged centrally of the tool whereas the units 11 and 12 are disposed adjacent the opposite ends thereof.

Adjacent each unit 11, 12 and 13 isan electric bulb and switch controlling the circuit to the bulb and as each of these electrical devices is the same, the brief description of one will apply to all and the structure of the bulb and switch for the unit 11 is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

Adjacent eachunit, the tool is provided with a chamber 15 and a passage 16 placing the chamber 15 in communication Withthe chamber between the panels 14 of each unit.

The chambers 15 open outwardly through one side face of the tool and this opening is closed by a removable plate 17 in connection with which the electric bulb 18 is supported through an insulating block 19 and the switch andswitch arm 20 is also supported in connection with the plate 17 by a bolt 21, said arm having a finger piece 22 projecting through an arcshaped slot 23 in the'plate 17 to permit the manual operation of said arm which is tensionally supported on a bolt by a spring 24 as clearly seen in Fig. l ofthe drawings. 'Aspring contact 25 is supported upon the block 19 and normally engages the inner terminal end 18a of the bulb and is also 7 adapted tobe engaged by the switch arm 20 as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

One end of the tool 10 is provided with a bore 26 in Which are arranged a plurality of battery cells 27, the pole of the innermost battery engaging the contact plate 28 for supplying electric energy to one circuit Wire 29 whereas the outer pole of the outer battery is placed in circuit with a wire 30 through a plate 31 arranged at said end of the tool a removable cap 32 being employed in conjunction with a spring 33 to tensionallyretain the batteries 27 in contact with each other and against displacement in the use of the tool.

It will be noted that the wire 30 extends through a bore 34 opening through the end of the tool and then is arranged in a groove 35 formed in the upper surface of the tool and extending longitudinally of one side edge thereof in which the wire 29 is also placed, and these wires are both of the insulated type so as to insulate one from the other. Adjacent each of the switch devices and bulbs, the bulb 18 is placed in circuit with the wire 29 through a branch wire 29a and the wire 30 is placed in circuit with the switch arm 20 through a branch wire 30a as clearly seen in Figs. 2 and i of the drawings, it being understood that the ends of the wires 29 and 30 will be coupled with the bulb and switch arm adjacent the unit 12.

It will be understood that the outer face of the plate 17 is countersunk so that the bolt 21 as well as the finger piece 22 are not exposed at the side face of the tool to interfere with the use thereof, and it is preferred that a large plate 36 be arranged upon the tool to cover the groove 35 and to act as a facing for the tool. This plate may terminate in rounded ends 36a and will be cut out to receive the plates 1'? and pressed inwardly to form the concave hand grips 367), note Fig. 1.

In the use of the tool, it will be understood that the several switch arms will be normally supported in inoperative position and when it is desired to illuminate anyone of the spirit level units, the arm is moved into the position shown in Fig. 2 to complete the circuit through the wires 3030a, 2929a and through the arm 20 and spring contact 25, the circuit being held in closed position by the tensional engagement between the contact 25 and arm 20 permitting the free use of the tool by one hand of the operator, and when the reading has been made the arm 20 is returned to open circuit position.

It will be'apparent that while it is preferred that a single electric supply be provided for all of the units, that an independent supply for each unit may be provided, the outstanding features of my invention residing in the provision of means for independently illuminating the separate spirit indicators of a level, it being understood that the invention is applicable to levels employing a single spirit level indicator or two or more thereof.

lVhile I have shown certain details of construction for carrying my invention into effect, it will be apparent that I am not necessarily limited to these details and various changes therein and modifications thereof may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In tools employing spirit levels, an illuminating device involving a battery supported in the tool, a bulb and a switch unit carried by a mounting plate detachably supported in connection with the tool and including means for supporting an electric bulb, and a manually operated switch device adjacent said bulb and in circuit therewith and with said battery, said switch including a spring contact adapted to be engaged by said bulb and a switch arm contacting with said spring contact in completing the circuiz to said bulb, said switch arm including a finger piece exposed outwardly through said mounting plate.

2. In tools employing spirit levels, an illuminating device involving a battery supported in the tool, a bulb and a switch unit carried by a mounting plate detachably supported in connection with the tool and including means for supporting an electric bulb, a manually operated switch device adjacent said bulb and in circuit therewith and with. said battery, said switch including a spring contact adapted to be engaged by said bulb and a switch arm contacting with said spring contact in completing the circuit to said bulb, said switch arm including a finger piece exposed outwardly through said mounting plate, said mounting plate being arranged in the tool adjacent a spirit level imbedded therein and the bulb of said illuminating device being exposed to said spirit level.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 10th day of April, 1930.

JOSEPH HILL. 

